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Ways and Means accepts Education budget report as committee debate continues over special-education funding

Kansas Senate Ways and Means Committee · February 5, 2026

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Summary

The Senate Ways and Means Committee accepted the Department of Education budget report after the education committee’s recommendations; debate focused on special-education funding levels, caseload-driven consensus estimates, and reappropriations for children's services.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted to accept the Kansas State Department of Education budget report as recommended by the Senate Committee on Education, while senators pressed staff for details about special-education funding and reappropriations.

Senator Erickson presented the agency’s revised estimates for FY26 and FY27 and said the special committee on the state budget concurred with the agency while deleting enhancement requests, including a $92.2 million special-education enhancement request for FY27. Erickson provided a research chart showing special-education state aid rose from just under $500 million in 2020 to $601 million in 2025, even as the percentage of excess cost covered by state aid dropped from about 76% toward the statutory 92% target.

"If you look at the special education state aid...in 2020, special education state aid was just a little under 500,000,000. In 2025, it was 601,000,000," Erickson said, adding that the 92% statutory formula is subject to appropriations. Senators pressed that without new dollars the percentage of excess cost the state covers will decline as caseloads and program costs change.

The subcommittee recommended restoring several reappropriations for child advocacy centers and other agency grant funds with stipulations directing funds to recently opened centers that reported acute need. Members highlighted that certain reappropriations already had been spent and therefore would be addressed in the FY27 budget cycle.

Senator Erickson moved acceptance of the education report; Senator Fagg seconded and the committee carried the motion by voice vote. Senators requested that staff circulate the research chart and caseload numbers to confirm the exact reductions reflected in the committee recommendations.

The committee adjourned and will resume work next week as budget deliberations continue.